Disinfecting and aerating device



Aug. 4, 1931. A. N. SPANEL 1,817,535

DISINFECTING AND AERATING DEVICE I Filed July so, 1928 Patented Aug. 4, 1931 PATIENT OFFICE ABRAHAM N. SPANEL, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK DISINFECTING- AND AERATING DEVICE Application filed July 30, 1928. Serial No. 296,353.

My invention relates in general to devices for disinfecting, fumigating and aerating bedding, furs, clothing, fabrics, and the like.

The principal object of my invention has been to provide a device by which articles may be conveniently and effectively treated with perfect safety to the articles and the user.

Another object has been to produce a device which shall be self-contained, having the air circulating means mounted within the p treatin chamber.

Anot er object is to provide a device having a treating chamber which is provided with but a single opening through which the articles to be treated may be inserted, thereby reducing the number of parts to a minimum and producing resultant economy in manufacture.

Furthermore, my device is of such a nature that it is portable, and the entire device may be conveniently suspended from a hook.

The above objects and advantages have been accomplished by the device shown in the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my device with a portion thereof broken away.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modified form of invention.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a modified form of invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of another modification.

My device comprises a container 9 which is collapsible and which provides a treating chamber. This container may be made of any suitable semi-porous or non-porous material. It is preferable, however, that the container be made of non-porous material, such as rubberized cloth, or the like, so that it is substantially airtight. The container is preferably rectangular in shape, as shown in the drawings, and is provided with side walls 10 and 11, and with end walls 12 and 13. A rigid plate 14 is located in the bottom of the container, is preferably supported by a wire frame 16.

The container is provided preferably in the side 13 with an opening 20 which may extend substantially the full length thereof and the top 15 of the same a This opening,

and be closed by any suitable means such. as the hookless fastener 21, which is provided with the usual slider 22. The hookless fastener in this form of my invention is so positioned that the slider 22 is at the bottom of the container when the opening 20 is closed.

Supported by the rigid bottom 14 of the container is the air circulating means 25 of my invention, which may be in the form of an electric vacuum cleaner. This device is rovided with a suction connection 26 and with a discharge connection 27. Attached to the suction connection 26 is a tube 28 which is preferably rigid and provided with an upturned end 29. This tube may be connected to the air circulating means by a rubber tube 30. The rigid tube 28 is preferably provided in its upper face with a slot 31 into which a screen 32 may be placed, whereby the tube is partitioned off and may thereby be used as an insecticide holder when it is desired to use the device for fumigating, disinfecting or the like.

The air circulating means may be securely fastened in place upon the rigid bottom 14 by any suitable means, and, for illustration, I have shown a strap 35 which is riveted at one end to the bottom 14 and secured at its other end to the bottom by means of a snap fastener 36. The electric cable 37 connected to the air circulating means is preferably. carried through the opening 20 in the side 13 0f the container and is connected to any suitable source of electric power.

Carried by the wire support 16 in the upper part of the container is a cross member 40 to which is suspended a zig-zag garment hanger support 41. A supporting hook 42 is provided for the deviceand it is attached to a screweye 43 which passes through the top 15 and into the cross member40.

Obviously, if desired, the rigid tube 28 may be connected to the discharge or pressure connection 27 of the air circulating means, as shown in Fig. 2.

Referring now to the form of invention shown in Fig. 3, I show a receptacle 50 which is provided in its side 51 with an opening 52. as in the form of device of Fig. 1, may extend the full length of the container, and may be closed by means of a hookless fastener 53, being so disposed that the slider 54 thereof is at the top of the container when the opening is either wholly or partially closed. The air circulating means 55 employed in this form of my invention is supported by the rigid bottom 56 of the container. A flexible'llose 57 is employed in this form, and it has its lower end 58 preferably attached to the discharge or pressure connection 59 of the air circulating means.

The hose is extended upwardly on the inside of the container and is passed out through the upper end of the opening 52, having its lower end 60 on the outside of the container. Some suitable means are employed for supporting the hose 57 in the upper part of the opening 52 and for convenience I have shown a strap 61, the ends 62 of which may be secured to the container by any suitable means, such as stitching or riveting. The strap is formed with a loop 63 through which the hose is passed. This form of device is also provided in its upper end with a wire support and garment hanging means similar to those shown and described in connection with the form of Fig. 1, and, for convenience of illustration, omitted in Fig. 3. The electric cable 64 from the air circulating means in this form of device obviously may be carried up on the inside of the container and passed out through the opening 52.

The modification shown in Fig. 4 comprises a rigid tube 65 which is attached by means of a rubber hose 66 to either the suction or blower connectors of the air circulating means. This tube is provided with means for heating the air which is circulated by it, which may be in the form of a resist ance coil 67. i I

When the device shown in Fig. 1 is to be put into operation, the slider 22 of the hook less fastener 21 is operated so .as to open the container, whereupon articles to be treated may be placed therein and, if desired, suspended from hangers which are supported by the ziz-zag garment hanger support 41. Suitable insecticide is now placed within the tube 28 with the screen 32 in position. The

opening 20 is then closed, and the air circulating means is put into operation. Since the container is preferably substantially airtight, the air contained within it will be recirculated through the air recirculating means, and in the recirculation will be charged with vapors of the insecticide.

Since substantially the same air within the,

container passes constantly through the insecticide, it will soon become substantially saturated with the vapors of such insecticide and thus thoroughly disinfect and fumigate' the articles so treated with a progressively increasing degree of efficiency. When the tube 28 is attached to the pressure connection 27, the screen 32 will prevent the insecticide from being blown out of the tube. If desired, the screen 32 may be dispensed with, and the insecticide poured directly into the upturned tube 28, since it will be drawn into the fan chamber of the air circulating means and forced up into and through the container through the pressure connection 27. I have found that where crystals are used in this manner, they are further pulverized by the fan and the constant recirculation of the crystal-laden air gives a progressively increasing degree of vaporization and, hence,

' efliciency.

When the device shown in Fig. 3 is employed, the garments are placed within the container as abovedescribed and theopening 52 is partially closed. The air circulating means are now put into operation. Air is now drawn into the container through the partially closed opening 52 .and in, through, and around the articles being treated, thus thoroughly aerating them. The air is drawn down toward the bottom of the container and into the suction connector 49 of the air recirculating means. This air is discharged through the pressure connector 59 and hose 57, and conducted thereby to the exterior of the receptacle, where it is discharged into the atmosphere. Obviously, the longer this process is continued the more thoroughly the articles being treated will be aerated.

While in Fig. 3 I have shown the attachment hose 57 as extending up the inside of the container and out through the upper part thereof, it is obvious that this hose may be dispensed with if desired, and the articles aerated by atmospheric .air which will be drawn into and expelled from the container through the partially closed opening 52. Such a method of aerating is not quite as efficient as when the hose 57 is employed, but this process may be efiicient enough for some purposes.

In the foregoing description, and in the appended claims, I refer to the container as being collapsible, but it is understood that this term includes a flexible as well as a collapsible container. I

Obviously, some modifications of the details herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims, and I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the exact embodiment herein shown and described, the form shown being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

.1. A disinfecting and aerating device, comprising a container having an opening through which articles to be treated may be inserted, a rigid top, a bottom, such top and bottom being connected by flexible walls, a

vacuum cleaner disposed within the contain within the container, and an insecticide holder in communication with the Vacuum cleaner, and in the path of all the air passing through the vacuum cleaner.

2. A disinfecting and aerating device, comprising a container having an opening through which articles to be treated may be inserted, a top, a bottom, such top and bottom being connected by flexible walls, a vacuum cleaner disposed within the container for causing a re-circulation of the air within the container, an insecticide holder carried by the vacuum cleanerand in communication with the fan chamber thereof, and in the path of all the air passing through such chamber, and a removable screen carried by the insecticide holder forv retaining the insecticide therein.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

; ABRAHAM N. SPANEL. 

